Apparatus for feeding or delivering biscuits for packing.



s. HERBERT, 1n.

Patented Sept. ll, |900.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING 0R DELIVEBING BISCUITS FDR PACKING.

(No Model.)

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(Application led June 26, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

` Patented sept. n, |900.

G. HERBERT, 1n. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING 0B DELIVERING BISCUITS FORPACKING.

(Application filed June 26, 1900.)

Sheet 2.

3 Sheets (No Model.)

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No. 657,657. A' Patented sept.,||, 4900. G. HERBERT, 1n. APPARATUS FURFEEDING 0R DELIVERING BISCUITS FOR PACKING.

(Application led June 26, 1900.) (No Modal.) 3 Sheets-$hee 3.

Y @www1 ffm? @1w/7V if 2;@ y www Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HERBERT, JR., OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING R DELIVERING BlSCUlTS FOR PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,657, datedseptember 11, 19oo.

Application filed June 26,1900. berial No. 21,602. @l0 mde-l.)

Factory, Kinning street, Kingston, Glasgow,

Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Feeding or Delivering Biscuits for Packing, (for which applicationfor patent has been made in Great ro Britain, No. 24,844, dated December14, 1899,)

of which the following is a specication.

In packing biscuits as ordinarily practiced the biscuits as they areremoved from the baking-ovens are deposited onto a table or in trays orboxes in loose heaps, from which they are removed and sorted or arrangedby hand in rows in which the biscuits all face one way.

My invention has for its object to econozo mize time and labor inpacking biscuits by providing mechanically-operated apparatus, whichfeeds forward the biscuits from a table on which they are laid flat anddelivers them into a trough-like receptacle resting on edge,

z5 but all facing one way, so that any number maybbe lifted out readyfor packing.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section,

3o and Fig. 2 a plan, of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a detail View of the device for preventing the passage of morethan one biscuit or series of superposed biscuits at a time and showingthis device in a position different from that in which itis shown atFig. l. Fig.

L is a part plan of this device to a larger scale, and Fig. 5 is a planof a modified form of the saine. l

Under the invention an endless traveling 4o band A is employed to conveythe biscuits B from the table B, which may also consist of a travelingband on which they are laid, to a series of shallow inclined chutes C3,formed side by side, preferably on an oscillating table O, actuated byan eccentric C4 or otherwise, down which chute the biscuits slide oneafter another on their bottom faces, the said chute having side rails oredges Cf, which are preferably adjustable toward or from each 5o otherby securing them in either of the holes C2 in said table, so that thewidth of chute may correspond approximately to the diameter ofbiscuitfed over it. In the side rails or sides C of each chute movablecatches D are fitted and are preferably pivoted,as shown at Figs. l, 2,and 3, on or in the side rails C', one catch being fitted in each railand the pair moved in unison, so as to bring them across or partlyacross t-he chute to intercept the biscuits and to withdraw them iiushwith the side rails to permit of the passage of one biscuit at a time orof the passage of a number superposed on the bottom biscuit. The openingof the catches D for the above purpose is effected by the action uponcranked arms D (shown particularly at Fig. 4) on the pivots D2 of thecatches D ofa bar E, extending between two bell-crank levers F, pivotedon the oscillating table C and brought against stops G, secured 011 theframe H of the machine by the rising of. the oscillating table.

The catches D are closed to retain the other biscuits in the chute bythe action upon them of tension-springs D3, secured to the arms D andthe sides of the rails O. At a lower point a like pair of catches arefitted in the chute or au upwardly-projecting pin or pins I, adjustablein respect to the upper catches, the adjustment of the latter beingeifected, as shown, by moving the blocks I', in which the spindle I5,carrying the pins I, is centered, toward or from the catches D by meansof a screw-threaded spindle I2 or otherwise passing through said blockand carried in a frame I3, attached to the oscillating table C. Thecatches when they are employed instead of pins are similar in form andaction to the u pper catches, but act alternately with them, and the pinor pins when such is or are employed being adapted to move upwardthrough the table C under the action of springs J into the path of thebiscuit just issued from the catches D, as shown at Fig. 3, and downwardthrough the bottom of the chute or table out of the path of the biscuitsby the action upon a lever-arm I4, keyed on the spindle I5, of anadjustable inclined block I6, as shown at Fig. l, the pins being somoved to allow the lowest biscuit to slide onto stationary troughlikereceptacles K. Instead of a curvilinear motion being imparted to thepins these may have a perpendicular movement in respect to the table C,the pins in each case being projected upward and downward through theirslots for the purpose already described. A-s the upper catches D andlower catches or pins I are moved alternately into the path of thedescending biscuits the lowest biscuit is inward from the side rails thelowest biscuit or superposed biscuits is or are free to drop, as shownat Figs. 1 and 2, and those above are retained. In this way one biscuitat a.l

time or series of superposed biscuits is allowed to drop from each chuteand they fall on edge into the shallow trough K, along which they arepushed whi-le still on yedge by plufngers L, fitted to reciprocate inthe rear of the troughs K, these plungers being reciprocated fro-mcranks M on the power-shaft M through connecting-rods N, levers O, andshort rods P, or otherwise. The biscuits as they fail are thus pushedalong the ltroughs on edge, and they are delivered or lifted out at thefurther end properly sorted for packing.

In order to allow of a pause at the upper end of the stroke to permit ofthe proper feeding of the biscuit from the travelling band A onto theoscillating table O and of the proper discharge of the biscuit from thecatches D, the eccentric C4 when such is used is made in two parts,having a spring O5 interposed between them, so that when the table C isprevented by the stops G from further upward movement the continuedupward n10-vement of the eccentric may be taken u-p by compression ofthe spring. Instead of employing an eccentric for raising and loweringthe table C a cam may be employed.

A brush Q may be employed to assist the transference of the biscuits.from the traveling band A to the table C.

The catches D instead of being'fi'tted to turn upon pivots for thepurpose of retaining and freeing the biscuits may be arranged, as shownat Fig. 5, to slide in slots D6 toward and from the center of the chutesC for the same purpose, or any other means for obtaining the sameres-ult may be e-mployed, so long .as the edge of the biscuit restsmerely against the catches and no pressure is brought to bear upon thetop of the biscuit, which in all cases would be detrimental to thedelivery of the same in a whole condition.

Instead of the table being adapted to oscillate a stationary inclinedtable may be employed, the catches and pins being formed and arranged asalready described, but mechanism, such as cams or Wipers, being arrangedto act on the bell-crank levers F and on the lever-arm I4 at the propertimes.

Having now described the invention, what I claim., and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. Apparatus for feeding or delivering biscuits for packing, consistingof the combination with a traveling band onto which the biscuits arelaid, of an inclined table, a series of chutes on said table formed byadjustable side rails down which the biscuits travel, movable' catchesin said rails adapted to alternately retain and release the biscuits inthe chute, movable pins adapted to catch the released biscuits andafterward to allow them to pass, stationarytroughs for receiving thedelivered biscuits and pistons normally situ-ated behind the table andmoving forward to push the delivered biscuits in an approximatelyuprightposition along said trough, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for feeding or delivering biscuits for packing, thecombination with an inclined table having a series of chutes formed byside rails on it, of movable catches in the side rails, bell-cran-klevers carrying between them a bar for opening these catches, cams orstops for koperating the bell-crank levers, pins for retaining thebiscuits released from the chutes by the catches, said pins beingactuated by inclined blocks or cams, and a movable piston for raisingthe biscuits into an approximately-upright position, said piston bei-ngoperated by a crank through connecting-rods and levers, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE HERBERT, JUNIOR.

Witnesses:

WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, JNQARM-STRONG, Jr.

